New Balance M670s for 2010..

05/11/2009

With significantly less exceptions than any rival brands, New Balance keep it consistent, season-after-season. We thought the tasteful rollout would burn out eventually, giving way to gaudy concepts, but it transpires that we were wrong, and with their triple threat of Flimby build quality, several silhouettes, and that undisputed performance heritage, Winter and Spring 2010 is going to be a big one, from staple shoes to some surprises in store. Seeing Pharell and Kanye repping for the ‘N’ in lowkey fashion despite having the world at their feet when it comes to promo sneakers has indicated to us that we underestimated their taste in shoes or that a stylist has sensed that we’re off moonboots now. We’re happy for New Balance – they kept it real during silly seasons of the past, and bringing the 670 in its original form back for 2006 was a good manoeuvre, when all around them were blinded by neon, pleather and limited numbers.

In 2009 it feels like the brand got the last laugh. Norse Projects, who’ve been tastefully self-assured in their brief shoe collaboration career thus far, put out a gloriously subdued version, blessed by a touch of spearmint. The 1984 runner succeeding late ’70s legends like the 620 seemed to be favoured by grown-ups throughout our early years from its debut through to the late ’80s. The 1300 had the bells and whistles, but these were significantly cheaper by comparison. Highly touted for managing to offer stability and support while remaining lightweight, where many more durable athletic pieces tended to pile on the pounds, it’s a quiet shoe of some significance. January and March will see these new colourways dropping in duos, picking up where last year’s nylon toed versions left off, but benefiting from glorious, glorious mesh on the toebox, tongue and collar. We’re looking forward to these dropping.